Impact-indicator and game device.



w. J. ENGLISH & a. M; WILCOX.

IMPACT INDICATOR AND GAME DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 2, 1913.

mmsao Patented July 6, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

COLUMBIA PLANOORAPH c0., WASHINGTON, D. c.

W. J. ENGLISH & G. M. WILCOX.

IMPACT INDICATOR AND GAME DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 2, 1913.

L mmfin Patented July 6, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- W I C24 61/04/77 7. 0 m6 cowunum IILANOGRAPH co..WASHINGTON, n c,

AE ATT FD,

WILLIAM J. ENGLISH AND GUY M. WILGOX, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS; SAID WILGOXASSIGNOR 'IO SAID ENGLISH.

IMPACT-INDICATOR AND GAME DEVICE.

Application filed. September 2, 1913.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, WILLIAM J ENGLISH and GUY M. WILcoX, both citizensof the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook andState of Illinois, have jointly invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Impact-Indicators and Game Devices, of which thefollowing is a description.

Our invention belongsto that class of devices for indicating ballisticimpulses, and may be employed in playing a game in a limited space, forexample within a room, when the player may, to a greater or less eXtent, approximate the operation, together with the judgment and skillrequired in playing a game out ofdoors and requiring much larger space,such for example as golf.

The object of our invention is to produce a simple and economical deviceto be employed for this, as well as for other purposes, and which willoperate with a reasonable degree of accuracy for said purposes.

To this end our invention consists in the novel construction,arrangement and combination of parts herein shown and described, andmore particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, wherein like or corresponding characters indicate likeor corresponding parts, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a simple formof ballistic meter and indicator, constituting a part of our invention,with parts broken away to more clearly show the construction. Fig. 2 isa similar view of a like device, which is arranged to set up to be usedin playing a game therewith. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a tee ingsurface or ground to be employed therewith, and Fig. 4 is a similar viewof a putting ground or green, which may also be employed in playing agame with said device.

Broadly speaking, our invention is based upon a simple, economical, andeffective ballistic member, preferably provided with. a comparativelylarge impact face, and deli cately supported and arranged to beaffected.

even a comparatively slight impact of the ball therewith, combined witha simple and reasonably accurate meter or measuring device, which shallalso include means to indicate the movement of the ballistic sur face.The ballistic or impact surface is;

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 6, 1915.

Serial No. 787,653.

preferably so supported as to uniformly present a substantially verticalface, as it moves or yields to the impact of the ball.

In the preferred form shown in the drawings, 1, 1 indicate the side barsof two rectangular frames, preferably pivotally connected as at 2; 3, 3are the end cross pieces for the same, while 4: is any preferred form oflink bar, or equivalent means, arranged to maintain the two frames inopen position as indicated; 5, 5 are, as shown, rectangular framessuitably stayed as at 6 to prevent side motion, and pivotally supportedor suspended at 7 upon the upper cross-bars 3 to permit a swingingmotion thereon; 8 is the impact member consisting of a frame coveredwith tightly drawn woven wire, or other suitable material, which willquickly and with reasonable accuracy transmit the impact thereon to thesupporting frame oarrying said member. As shown, the supporting frameconsists of two triangular frames 9 connected at two angles by the endframes of the member 8, and at the other angle by a bar 10. This frameis pivotally or swingingly supported upon the free ends of the swingingframes 5 as at 11; thus allowing the impact member a substantiallyhorlzontal movement in reference to an impact thereon without materiallychanging the angle of its impact surface.

Any preferred and suitable means to measure the swinging movement of theimpact member and to indicate said movement, may be employed. As shown,a simple device for this purpose is shown in Fig. 1, wherein a pointerof bell-crank form 12, 18, pivotally supported upon any suitable part ofthe frame, as at 14:, with one end asat 13, extending in the path of apin 15, carrled on the supporting frame of the impact member, and theother end or pointer 12 extended in proximity to a graduated bar or dial16. In the preferred form, the friction on the pivot 14: is ustsufficient to prevent overthrow by the movement of the frame contactingwith the bell-crank, and at the same time to cause the pointer to remainat the extreme point caused by the movement of the impact member, untilthe pointer shall again be set.

From the above description it will be apparent that any impact upon themember 8 :will be transmitted to the bell-crank pointer 12, 18, whichwill thus indicate the movement of said member and remain in suchposition until it shall again be set by hand.

While we have described a simple and effective device for the purposeset forth, it is obvious that many immaterial modifications may be madein various parts and methods of connecting them, without departing fromthe spirit of our invention; consequently we do not wish to be limitedto the exact form and construction illustrated, which is here shown forthe purpose of showing an extremely simple and economical form ofdevice, which at the same time will be effective for the purposes set Iforth.

Figs. 2, 3 and 4 indicate the method by whichour device may be employed,for illustration, in playingthe game of in-door golf. As here shown, anet 17, or equivalent means, is supported in a suitable frame. It may besupported upon the frame 1, as shown; or otherwise, as preferred. At asuitable point in the net is arranged an opening of sufficient size tosomewhat snugly receive the impact member 8, so as not to interfere withits operation; 18 indicates a teeing mat, or suitable device, on whichthe ball may be placed preparatory to striking the same and driving itagainst the impact member, while 19 indicates a putting surface havingthe usual pocket 20. It will be understood that all the parts areproperly proportioned to suitably cooperate for the purpose set forth.

The method of playing the game will be apparent to those accustomed tothe so-called in-door golf. The scorer, provided with a score-card of Ithe particular links to be played, will keep the score by deducting thedistance the ball would have been driven under ordinary circumstances,as shown by the indicator. The player, in driving the next ball, willtake into consideration the distance he is to make in order to reach theputting green, and our device will, with reasonable accuracy, indicatethe skill and judgment exercised on his part in the stroke. Upon makingthe distance to the putting green, the ball will then be placed upon theputting surface and putted out in the usual manner.

Hazards may be taken into consideration in any way preferred, forillustration a sand-pit or bunker may penalize a player a stroke, whilea water hazard may penalize 1 the player two strokes. This, of course,may

' be modified as desired, but it is clear that the element of'hazardsmay be brought into the game, adding greatly to the interest therein.It-will also be clear that the player must strike the ball withsubstantially the same force that is required when in playing the gamein the open, an element which is not present in the usual in-door golfgame where the player is in danger of falling into the error of pitchingthe ball, owing to the short distance, to secure greater accuracy,rather than driving it with a force sufiicient to obtain the distancenecessary in playing the game in the open. The line of direction of theball may be indicated by the angle at which it strikes the impactmember, that is, the angle from the point of driving to the face of saidmember. This may be clearly shown by removably placing a paper orsimilar target over the impact face. The target will show the imprint ofthe ball, and the lines on the target will show the vertical andhorizontal departure from a straightly driven ball. Simple clips 20(Fig. 1) or equivalent means, may serve to hold the target in properposition.

It is obvious that the size or area of the impact member may be such asexperience will show is the most practical, while the delicacy of theoperation of the impact member may be increased by exercising reasonablecare and proper mechanical skill in the construction of the device andthe assembling of the parts. It is also obvious that a ball striking thesurface of the impact member at an improper angle, would lose acorresponding proportion of the force, which would be indicated on thedevice. Just as in playing the game in the open, a ball so driven wouldlose both distance and direction.

Having thus described our invention and one method of using the same inplaying a popular game, what we claim as new and desire to secure byLetters Patent is 1. A device of the kind described, comprising suitablysupported horizontal bars arranged parallel to each other insubstantially the same horizontal plane, and depending links pivotallysupported by the bars, in combination with a target box-frame providedwith an impact target on one of the faces, pivotally connected to thefree ends of the links to maintain the target face in a verticalposition, and means for indicating the movement of the target when it isstruck by a missile.

2. In a device of the kind described, two frames pivotally supported atone edge parallel to one another, in substantially the same horizontalplane, in combination with a target box-frame pivotally connected to thefree edges of the parallel frames and provided with a vertical impacttarget, and means for indicating the movement of the target when struckby a missile.

3. In a device of the kind described, a supporting frame provided withtwo bars arranged parallel to each other in substantially the samehorizontal plane, a depending frame pivotally connected at one of itsedges to each of the bars and extending downward substantially the samedistance, in combination with a target box-frame pivotally connected tothe free edges of the depending frames to maintain an impact targetcarried thereby in a substantially vertical position, and means forindicating the movement of the target when struck by a missile.

4c. In a device of the kind described, a supporting frame provided withtwo bars arranged parallel to each other in substantially the samehorizontal plane, a depend ing frame for each of the bars pivotallyconnected at one of its edges thereto, and extending downwardsubstantially the same distance, in combination with a target boX- framepivotally connected to the free edges of the depending frames tomaintain an impacttarget carried thereby in a substantially verticalposition, a graduated member and a cooperating indicating membertherefor, one of said members being fixed and the other being operableby the movement of the target.

In testimony whereof, we have hereunto signed our names in the presenceof two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM J. ENGLISH. GUY M. VVILGOX. Witnesses:

ROY W. HILL, CHARLES I. COBB.

G'opies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, byaddressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

